Fearless

by Nicole Coverdale

  Elena laughed. “Why should I show you any mercy? You certainly didn’t show me any. You were going to kill me.”

  “I have a family.”

  “You’re full of shit.” Elena whispered. “None of us have families.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong.” The man whispered. “That place is my home. Those people, they are my family, and you’re never going to live to see another day.” He lunged towards her, knocking her to the ground. His hands reaching for her throat.

  The sound of a gunshot echoed in her ears.

  Brain matter suddenly splattered all over the floor in front of her.

  And Roy’s body fell to the ground in a heap.

  “Jesus!” Elena scrambled backwards on her hands and knees.

  She turned her head.

  Watching as the man pushed himself away from the wall. Walking towards her. His face battered and bruised.

  “He was going to kill me.” She whispered. “They were going to kill me.”

  “I know.” The man whispered, stopping in front of her. “I’m just glad I was nearby when everything happened. That I was able to help you out.” He sent her a smile, holding out a hand. “I’m Kieran.”

  “Elena.”

  She stared at his out stretched hand.

  It was so big, she thought to herself. And so tan.

  What had Abel always told her?

  Everyone in this world was selfish? Self-absorbed? Didn’t care about the people around them?

  Abel was an idiot.

  This man had saved her. He had helped her. He had saved her life, and there was no way she could ever repay him. He had no idea how grateful she was.

  Slowly she placed her hand in his.

  He pulled her to her feet.

  And she gasped, falling forward, against his chest. Laughing a little, as she pulled away from him. Staring up into his midnight blue eyes. At his battered face.

  “You’re hurt.” She whispered, raising a hand, touching his face.

  “I’ll heal.” He whispered, sending her a smile again.

  Elena started. Her heart lurching. Her throat tightening.

  God, he was handsome, she thought to herself. And at the moment definitely her knight in shining armor.

  She froze.

  What the hell?

  Good God, what was wrong with her? She wondered to herself. What the hell was wrong with her! Where had that thought come from? There was no such thing as a knight in shining armor. Happily ever after didn’t exist. Her life, it was in shambles. It was in pieces, and if it was one thing she knew for certain it was that there were no happy endings for people like her. They were doomed to be alone for the rest of their life.

  God that was sad, she thought.

  But it was the facts, she told herself. Her life, it wasn’t meant to be shared with anyone. She wasn’t allowed to have friends. She couldn’t allow herself to. Because in the end, she would only end up losing them and that was one pain she could not bear.

  The people she cared about, always ended up dying on her.

  And she couldn’t lose anyone else.

  A shout sounded somewhere nearby.

  Her head jerked up.

  “Down here!”

  “Did you hear the gunshot?”

  “She’s here, somewhere.”

  “She’ll never get out of here alive!”

  “They’re here.” She whispered.

  “Who’s here?”

  “The people who are trying to kill me.”

  Kieran stared at her.

  “We have to go.” Elena whispered. “We have to go now! Please tell me you have another gun.”

  Kieran laughed. Rolling his eyes. “Of course I have another gun.”

  He reached down, lifting his pant leg to reveal an ankle holster. Handing a small automatic to her.

  Elena reached for it. And she stopped, lifting her head to stare at him.

  A lock of his brown hair fell down over his eyes.

  She bit back a smile.

  “Why did you help me?” she asked. “Why? When any other sane person would have gone running in the opposite direction.”

  Kieran looked at her.

  Then he shrugged.

  “I guess I’m just a sucker for damsels in distress.” He finally said.

  Elena laughed.

  “Sorry to disappoint you, Buster, but I am no damsel in distress.”

  She took a step forward, peering down the hallway.

  “Now listen to me, these people, they aren’t like anyone you’ve ever met.”

  “I know.”

  “They’re dangerous.”

  “I know.”

  “They’re highly trained.”

  “I know.”

  “They’re not afraid to kill anyone.”

  “I know.”

  Elena jerked her head around.

  “You know?”

  “Yes. I’ve been tracking them.”

  Elena opened her mouth.

  Than a scream split through the air.

  She jerked her head around.

  Five of Abel’s men were walking down the hallway.

  “Where is she?”

  One of them grabbed a young woman by the back of the neck.

  “I don’t know.”

  “She’s useless!”

  He lifted his gun, pointing it at the woman’s head, and pulled the trigger.

  Elena gasped. Watching as he threw her lifeless body to the ground.

  “Monsters.” Kieran muttered from next to her.

  Elena nodded.

  She turned her head.

  He was so close to her.

  “She’s down here.”

  She froze.

  Turning her head.

  Staring at the man who held a tablet in his hands. Pointing right at them.

  Her tracker.

  “It’s time.” She whispered. “We have to go now.”

  Kieran nodded. “On three?”

  Elena nodded.

  “One.”

  They readied their weapons.

  “Two.”

  They’re eyes locked.

  “Three.”

  They jumped to their feet, and raced out of the room.

  Chapter Nine

  “There she is!”

  The sound of a gunshot sounded.

  Elena stepped out from the room. Sprinting down the hallway. Her arms and legs pumping harder, faster than ever before.

  Footsteps sounded behind her.

  A bullet whizzed past her ear.

  She started. Turning her head. Staring at Kieran, as he ran behind her. His eyes locked with hers.

  She drew a deep breath.

  And she turned her body, stopping for a split second, raising her gun and pulling the trigger.

  The bullet zinged through the air. Hitting one of the men in the throat. And she watched as he fell to the ground. Blood pouring from his throat.

  More gunshots sounded around her.

  “Come on, Elena. We have to keep moving.”

  Kieran’s hand wrapped around her arm.

  She raised her head and stared at him.

  How could he be so calm? She wondered, staring up into his hard, unyielding face. How could he be surrounded by all this violence? By all this death and not be affected by it? How?

  She shook her head. Shaking the thoughts away.

  It doesn’t matter, Elena. She thought to herself. It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that he’s right. You have to keep moving. Remember. These men want to kill you. Do you want to die?

  Hell no.

  She lifted her head, and slowly nodded.

  “Let’s go.”

  They turned, and sprinted down the hallway.

  More bullets rang out behind them.

  They sprinted around a corner and stopped. Leaning against the wall. Both of them breathing hard.

  “We can’t take the elevator.” Elena whispered, panting. “It’s too dangerous. They’ll cor
ner us.”

  “I know.” Kieran whispered, leaning his head against the wall, his breath coming out hard. “We’re going to have to take the stairs.”

  Elena nodded.

  Yells rang out from behind her.

  Screams sounded.

  Another gunshot sounded.

  They were hurting people.

  Elena felt a pain in her heart. She gripped her gun tight, tears filling her eyes. God, why was this happening? Why? Why did the world have to be like this? Why did people like this have to exist? It wasn’t what she wanted. It wasn’t what she wanted at all!

  She pushed herself away from the wall, peering around the corner. Aiming her weapon, and pulled the trigger.

  Another man fell to the floor with a thud.

  And she lifted her head, watching as more men filled the hallway.

  “Oh God!”

  She jumped back around the corner, her breath coming out hard. “Oh God. Oh God. Oh God.”

  “What?” Kieran stared at her. “What is it?”

  “Take a look.”

  Kieran raised a brow and peered around the corner.

  “Holy shit!” he swung around, staring at her.

  “There’s too many of them.” Elena whispered. “We’ll never be able to fight them all off and it’s all my fault.”

  “Elena, what are you talking about? What is going on? Why are all these men trying to kill you?”

  “Because I decided that I didn’t want to be a part of what they were building.” Elena whispered. “The man I used to work for. He’s not a good man. He wanted me to become someone I didn’t want to become. He doesn’t like people thinking for themselves. He only believes in what he believes in. He believes that he is the only one who can ever be right and when you disagree with him there’s hell to pay, and now, because I don’t share his beliefs. Because I refused to follow his orders he’s doing the only thing he can. He’s doing whatever he can to get rid of me.”

  She bowed her head.

  Thinking of the last several days.

  She felt Kieran’s eyes on hers. Knowing that there was no way he could understand what she was telling him. No one could.

  She pushed away from the wall.

  “But I refuse to be taken down.” She whispered. “At least I’m not going down without a fight.” She gripped the gun tight with her hands. “Because I’m going to take down every single one of them. Even if it kills me. Cover me.”

  And she stepped into the hallway.

  She raised her gun.

  And she pulled the trigger.

  Gunfire echoed all around her.

  She saw the men in black diving for cover.

  Bodies hit the floor.

  Blood coated the hallway walls of the hospital.

  Behind her she heard Kieran shooting his own weapon.

  And a deafening beep sounded through the air.

  An alarm.

  Her head jerked up at the sound.

  And she watched as more men in black filled the hallway from the opposite direction. Coming right towards them.

  “It’s time to go.” She whispered, slowly backing out of the hallway. Grabbing Kieran’s arm and sprinting around the corner and down the hallway.

  Footsteps sounded in her ears.

  She heard the yells.

  She heard the gunshots.

  They raced down the hallway, they’re feet echoing on the linoleum tile.

  They raced past an older lady in a walker.

  “Get back in your room!” Elena cried, as they raced past her. “It’s not safe! Save yourself!”

  And she skidded to a stop. Stopping in front of the doorway that lead to the stairs. Her fingers wrapping around the door handle.

  And she felt her whole body suddenly cave on her.

  Her head spun.

  Her muscles went lax.

  She stumbled. Her knees shaking, buckling.

  She couldn’t stand.

  And she felt herself sliding to the ground.

  “Elena!” strong arms wrapped around her waist. Sliding to the ground with her.

  “Elena?”

  Kieran’s voice whispered in her ear.

  She raised her head.

  Her vision was blurred.

  She felt his hands on her face.

  “Elena, what’s wrong?” he asked. His voice full of concern. “What’s wrong?”

  “I think they drugged me.” Elena forced out. “They must have done it before I woke up. I can barely stand, Kieran. My head is spinning. Everything in front of me is blurry and I feel like I’m going to throw up. I’m not going to make it down those stairs, Kieran.”

  “Yes you will.”

  “No, Kieran, I’m not.” Elena whispered, raising her head, staring at him. “They’re going to kill me, Kieran. There’s no use in denying it. In just a few minutes I’m going to be dead.”

  “No you’re not.” Kieran told her, his voice firm. “Because I am not going to let that happen, Elena.”

  “Kieran—“Elena felt her voice drift off. Tears filled her eyes, streaking down her face. God, she hated this! She thought to herself. She freaking hated this! She hated feeling weak. She hadn’t been a weak little girl in a long time, but right now, she felt anything but strong. She felt nothing like the woman she had become the last eight years. She felt nothing like the same person she’d been the last several days. Dammitt, she liked being strong! She liked being independent! And she liked kicking ass for crying out loud. She didn’t want to die!

  “I’m not going to let you die, Elena.” Kieran told her. “Because we’re going to do this together. Come on.”

  He grabbed her by the arm, pulling her to her feet.

  Elena gasped, feeling every muscle in her body shake.

  “Kieran, I can’t stand.”

  “You don’t have to.” Kieran told her, wrapping his arm around her waist. “Come on.”

  And he pulled they door open.

  Slowly the walked through it.

  And the sound of running feet echoed in Elena’s ears.

  “They’re coming.” She whispered.

  “I know.” Kieran told her, as he pulled her down the first set of stairs. The door behind them slamming shut. “Let’s go.”

  And a moment later, she heard the door slam open.

  Footsteps sounded above them.

  And the first gunshot sounded.

  Elena jumped.

  Her foot tripping on the stair.

  She felt Kieran’s grip around her waist loosen.

  And she felt her body stumbling forward.

  “Kieran!” she cried out, as she fell forward. Her body hitting the concrete step hard.

  Her body rolled down the stairs.

  She felt ever bump. Every stair.

  And landed at the bottom of the stairs in a heap.

  “Damn.” She whispered. Lifting her head, feeling as if she were in a daze. She couldn’t focus. Her stomach was churning.

  She heard another gunshot.

  “Elena.”

  Kieran jumped down the stairs, stopping next to her. Leaning down, reaching for her.

  And behind him, one of the men in black appeared from the top of the stairs and lunged towards them.

  “Kieran.” She tried to scream the word, but it only came out as a whisper.

  He turned his head.

  And she watched, as the man in black raced towards him, shoving him against the wall. Slamming a fist into his face.

  Elena screamed.

  Kieran’s head snapped back.

  His eyes narrowed. He stared at the man, and he charged forward.

  The man smiled.

  His yellow teeth showing.

  He ducked, missing Kieran’s fists, spinning on his heel. His foot rising and connecting with Kieran’s jaw.

  Kieran’s head snapped back once again.

  He stumbled backwards

  The man charged towards him.

  And he shoved Kieran against the wall
again. Kieran’s head slamming against the wall and he slumped to the ground. Laying there, unmoving.

  “Kieran!” She screamed.

  The man turned, his eyes narrowing on her. And he took a step towards her.

  Elena swallowed.

  Trying to rise to her feet.

  But her legs wouldn’t work.

  And she slid back to the floor.

  “Elena. Elena.” He stopped in front of her, a smile spreading across his face, as he stared into her wide eyes. “Look at you.” He whispered. “So helpless, you don’t even have the strength to defend yourself. You don’t have the will to survive. You have nothing! All you are now, is a weak, little girl.” He reached a hand forward, tracing a finger down her cheek “Abel wants you dead.” He whispered. “You threaten everything he stands for. Everything he’s worked so hard to build. You’re a threat to him, Elena, and he wants you eliminated.”

  “I don’t care.” Elena whispered, raising her chin.

  “You don’t care?” the man laughed. “Oh, Elena, still acting like you’re still the most dangerous weapon aren’t you? You’re going to die, Elena.”

  “I’m not going to die.” Elena whispered, staring up at him. “I won’t die, because I’ve made a vow to myself that I will not die before I can save this world from the chaos Abel is about to unleash on it. I won’t die, before I have done everything in my power to stop him, even if it means killing you.” She pushed away from the wall, lunging towards him.

  His hands reached forward, grabbing her by the wrists.

  “Oh, Elena, you don’t have the strength to kill me.” He whispered. “In fact, I’m the one who’s going to kill you. But first, we’re going to have a little bit of fun.” He turned his head. “Boys, who wants a chance to fuck the brains out of this bitch!”

  “Yes!”

  Elena froze.

  The sound of the men running down the stairs echoing in her ears.

  “Let’s untie her gown!”

  And she felt hands wrapping around her arms.

  She felt fingers at the back of her gown.

  And she felt her blood run cold.

  “No.” she whispered, shaking her head. “No!” And she struggled against their hold.

  She felt the gown slide from her body.

  And the cold air brushed against her skin.

  “You know, Elena, you’re not afraid of much.” The man whispered, taking a step forward.

  Elena struggled against the men who held her.

  “But you are afraid of one thing.” He whispered, walking up to her, cupping a hand around one of her bare breasts. “And that’s having the same thing happen to you that happened to your sister eight years ago. You’re afraid of being raped, Elena.” He brought his mouth to her ear, licking her lobe. “And I for one, would love the chance to make you into a whore.” He grinned. “Who’s first, boys?”